Lubricator



(No Model.) 4 sneets sneet 1.

J. RYAN.

LUBRIGATOR. No 363,684. Patented May 24, 1887..

Ae'/ In ventoze 170367972 H ya/2 N. PETERS. Pholwlhhogmbhan Wa'ihingion. D. C.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

JJRYAN,

LUBRIGATOR.

(No Model.)

N0. 363,684. Patented May 24,1887.

Aes'f N. PETERS. vhowumo n mr. Wnhingmn. DJ-

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J RYAN.

LUBRIGATOR.

(No Model.)

71' I 8 I 4 A 2 Y 6% a v@ .M 2%

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH RYAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,684, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed January 27, 1886. Serial No. 189,951. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH RYAN, of the invented a certain new and usefullmprovement in Lubricators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved lubricator, showing it applied to a compressor, part of the compressor being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the oil-tanks, one of the tanks and its parts being shown in side view and one in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section through one of the parts, taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the main condensers and its adjacent parts. Fig. 5is an enlarged vertical section of an auxiliary condenser. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section of the si ght-feed and its adjacent parts. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken online 7 7, Fig, 6. Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of the sight-feed, this being the form that is preferably used on the branch oil-pipes of the compressor. Fig. 9 represents the valve located between the compressor and sightfeed. Fig. 10 represents an enlarged vertical section of the sight-feed, the auxiliary condenser, the parls connecting the condenser and sight-feed, and part of the steam-pipe.

. My invention relates to alubricator involving several novel features, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a steam-pipe leading to or from an engine, B.

0 represents a compressor connected to and operated by the engine B in the usual manner.

0 represents the pipe connecting the valves of the opposite ends of the compressor, as usual.

As I claim nothing in the engine or in the compressor per se, it will be unnecessary to describe them or their construction more particularly.

D represents an oil-tank for holding oil to lubricate the compressor 0, and E represents a tank for holding oil to lubricate the engine B. These tanks are located sideby side, but have no such connection as will permit the mingling of the two kinds of oil, which is important, it being well known that black-oil will answer best the purpose of lubricating ammonia-gas compressors, and it also being well known that engine-oil is the best for lubricating engines, therefore the tank D is filled with black-oil and the tank E with engine-oil.

chamber, G the feed-pipe F communicating with the chamber G", as shown. The object of thisjacket or chamber G is to permit the circulation of a warm medium around the oil to keep the oil in a liquid condition in cold weather or in cold rooms. This is preferablydone by means of steam caused to enter the chamber G through a pipe, G, as shown in Fig. 2, which connects with a pipe, G, leading to the steampipe A. (See Fig. 1.) The water can be drawn from the tanks through an eseapepipe, H, provided with avalve, H.

The oil from the tank D is conveyed to the compressor 0 through a pipe, G, and branch pipes G, the latter being connected with the pipe G by a coupling, G, and are provided with valves G, to regulate the feed of the oil. Each branch pipe is also provided with asightfeed, G", and with check-valves G (see Figs. 1 and 9,) so that in case of the sight-tubes being broken the escape of gas from the compressor will be shut off automatically.

I have shown one of the sight-feeds, Fig. 1,

arranged to feed downward-that is, the one on the left-hand sideand the other to feed passage of the oil from the tank is regulated or may be shut off entirely by means of a valve, P, which is shown open in Fig. 2, asimilar valve, P, being provided for the tank D. The construction 01, the sight-feed I is illustratedin Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 10, the end of the pipe H where it is connected with said sightfeed being shown in Figs. 6 and 10. Thelower end of the glass tube 1 of the sight-feed is con- I nected to a basepiece, 1 which in turn is connected by a short coupling, 1 with an L- shaped pipe, I, to which is connected the end of the pipe H This pipe I has a valve, 1 to shut off the flow of oil when the parts are to be disconnected. The short pipe I is con nected to the base-piece I by a stuffing-box, I. The base-piece has a valve, 1 to regulate the flow of oil to the parts to be lubricated.

1 represents the nipple of the feed-tube, which is secured to and supported by the basepiece I between which latter and a couplingpiece, 1, the glass tube 1 of the sight-feed is heldand supported in the manner described in my copending application, Serial No. 149,354.

I represents the top piece of the sight-feed, which is connected with the steam-pipe A by means of a short pipe, I", and is connected with the coupling-piece P by means of ashort section, I, the meeting ends of the said section I and couplingpiece 1 being formed as shown in Fig. 10 and clamped together by a union or collar, 1. This top piece also communicates at top with a condensing-chamber, 1 By this construction steam entering through pipe I is received in the condenser, the water of condensation flowing down through top piece, 1 and filling the sight-feed tube 1, whereby the oil rises through the water as it passes to the parts to be lubricated. The passage of the oil from the sight-feed into the steanrpipe A, or of the steam in the reverse direction, may be regulated or closed by a valve, 1 A connection similar to that shown at 1 may be made between the pipe I and the base-piece 1 as shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

It frequently happens in these lubricators that the sight-tube becomes coated on the in side with impurities from the oil, so that it is difficult to see whether the feed of the oil is going on or not.

To afford a convenient means for washing or cleaning the inside of the sight-feed tube, I have devised the following arrangement: In Figs. 1, 5, and 10 an auxiliary condenser, J, is

shown connected by means of aglobe or other Valve, J, and a short pipe, J", to the steampipe A, and consisting of a globe or chamber, J, witha central tube, J for the passage of the steam, which condenses into water and passes from the chamber J through a pipe, J, to a valve, J whence it passes through a pipe, J", to the base-piece I? of the sight-feed I. By closing the valve J. the steam from the pipe A may be shut off, and by closing the valve J the water may be shut off from passing through the sight-feed tube.

In addition to the water acting to wash the glass, it also acts as avehicle to carry the oil through the sightfeed tube into the steam-pipe.

J represents a check-valve located in the pipe J, which will close as soon as the pressure in the pipe J and in the sight-feed tube become equal, and remain closed while the press ure in the said tube is in excess of that in the pipe J, thus preventing any return or backflow of the water through these parts, which would interfere materially with the continuous feed of the oil. This backflow would also result in soiling the sight-tube, as the passage of the water would then be downward through the sight-feed tube; but in case of any back pressure, whether it be due to the pulsation of the engine or other causes, this valve will close, thereby preventing a backflow of the oil and water. The base-piece-I has an opening or duct, J for the passage of the water from the pipe J (see Fig. 7) to the sight-feed tube I, said duct communicating with the lower end of said tube and at the base of the nozzle I In case it should be desired at any time to drain the water from the sightfeed tube, it can be done by closing the valves J and I and opening a valve, J, at the bottom of the base-piece I. This valve is shown closed in Fig. 10 and open in Fig. 6, and when these valves are in these positions steam may be blown through the sight-feed tube from the pipe A to clean out the-parts.

In the stearnpipe G, which furnishes heat for the oil-tanks E D, ems stated, I placeia condenser, M, as shown in Fig. l, the construction of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. This condenser is connected to the pipe G by means of a coupling having a valve, M,which can be used to regulate or cut off the flow of steam. The water of condensation passes through a perforated cage, N, at the bottom of the condenser, the pipe N, and branch pipes N to the respective tanks E and D. The branch pipes are provided with valves N and connect with the tanks through means of a head-piece, 0, having ports 0 for the flow of water, and provided with valves 0. The water is carried to the bottom of the oil-tanks by means of inclosed pipes 0, connecting with the ports 0, and as it enters it displaces the oil through the pipes G and H as described.

In case it should be desirous to close off the flow of water into the tanks without stopping the passage through the pipes N and N", it may be done by shifting the valves 0 from the position shown in Fig. 2,when they would may be carried on through the night,or when the machinery is at rest, while there is steam in the steam-pipes, so that the only thing that is necessary to do in order to clean the pipes is to shut off the flow of oil and reverse the valves 0.

This invention is very closely allied to those described in my contemporaneous applications, Serial No. 149,354 and No. 189,959,- filed on the 6th day of October, 1884, and on the 27th day of January, 1886, respectively, only such novel features being herein claimed as are not claimed in one or the other of said applications.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in alubricator, of the oil-tank D, pipe G, having branches G, con necting said tank with the parts to be lubricated, a sight-feed, G located in each of said branches, and automatic valve G located in each of said branches between the sight-feed and part to be lubricated, substantially as set forth.

2. In alubricator, the combination,with the oil-tank and pipe G, having branches G, connecting it with the parts to belubricated, of a sight-feed, G located in each of said branches, the automatic valves G, located in said branches between the sight-feed and the part to be lubricated, and the screw-valves G located between said sight-feed and the inter section of the said branches, substantially as set forth. 1

3. The combination, with the independent oil-tanks D E, independent pipes for conveying oil therefrom for lubricating the compressor O and engine B, respectively, and a water-supply, M, common to both, of a pipe, N, having branches N communicating with said water-supply and the respective tanks, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the oil-tank D, pipe connecting said tank with the part to be lubricated, headpiece 0, located on the tank, having ports P and O, with which the oil-tank communicates, condenser M, connected to the steampipe A, and pipe forming communication between the condenser and oil tank through port 0, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the oil-tank having the head-piece 0, provided with ports 0 and I ,communicating with said tank and with each other, oil-pipe communicating with the port 1?, valve P for closing said port, waterpipe N, communicating with port 0, and valve 0", controlling said port and also the communication between the two ports 0 and P,

. whereby the flow of water from the condenser closed therefrom and caused to flow through the oil-pipe, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a lubricator, of a steam-pipe, A, sight-feed I, oil-tank E, means for forcing the oil therefrom into said sightfeed, condenser J, having communication with t the pipe A, pipe J, forming communication between the condenser and sight-feed, and valve J located in said pipe between the sightfeed and condenser J, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination, with the steam-pipe A and condenser J, with which it communicates, of sight-feed I, a pipe, I", through which the latter communicates with the steam-pipe A, the pipe J J", connecting the sight-feed and condenser, and an automatic valve, J for preventing backflow through said sight-feed, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the steanrpipe A, sight-feed I, base-piece 1 connected to the sight-feed and provided with ports J ,pipe J J J, forming connection between thesteam-pipe and the ports J in the base-piece, and provided with valves J and J and a condenser, J, located in said pipe, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, in a lubricator, of the steam-pipe A, sight-feed I, base-piece 1", connected to the sight-feed and having port or ports J pipe J J J", forming connection between the steampipe and the ports J in the base-piece, and a check-valve, J, located in said pipe, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a lubricator, the combination of the steam-pipe A, the sight-feed I, the pipe I, communicating at one end with the steam-pipe and at the other end with theupper end of the sight-feed, the condenser I, also communicating with the upper end of the sight'feed tube, the base-piece 1 having duct communicating with the sight-feed at bottom, the oil-supply pipe H", communicating with said base-piece, the valve 1 for controlling the flow of oil through the pipe H, and the valve 1, for regulating the feedingof oil to the sight-tubc,substantially as set torth.

11. In a lubricator, the combination, with an oil-tank, E, a WatersuppIy, M, and a pipe, N, leading from the water-supply to the oiltank, of a sight-feed, I, a pipe, H, connecting the oil-tank and sight-feed, a condensingchamher, J, and a pipe leading from the condensingchamber to the bottom of the sight-feed tube,

IIO

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH RYAN. In presence of GEo. H. KNIGHT, Enw. S. KNIGHT. 

